Romain Febvre made a solid return to the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship with fifth overall, just two points from the podium, at Teutschenthal in Germany.
Febvre had been sidelined for almost eight months after he broke his right leg at the Paris Supercross back in November 2021 and has since undergone further surgeries after complications in the healing process.
The Frenchman was strong out of the start in race one to launch immediately into third place from gate six and held the position for three laps before surrendering to a tough move from the current world-number-three. Showing no signs of race-rustiness despite more than six months off the bike he remained unruffled and, building a solid rhythm, raced clear of all other chasers until he slackened his pace slightly in the final laps as the strenuous track inevitably made its presence felt but he still maintained fourth to the finish for a remarkable return to GP racing.
Initially ninth in race two after being closed down on the approach to the first turn the Frenchman moved quickly forward to seventh by the completion of the first complete lap. After two solid days of racing in mid-summer weather the track surface had become ever more unforgiving as the ruts became rock-hard and on his return to racing, he sensibly avoided unnecessary risks. Nevertheless, he was rewarded with fifth overall, just two points shy of the podium, to more than justify the decision to race just two-and-a-half weeks after resuming training and can now look forward optimistically to putting Kawasaki back in their rightful place at the sharp end during the second half of the season.
“I’m feeling happy at my performance but I’m really tired this evening,” Febvre said after the race. “I knew it would be a tough track. I had some good practice but I have only had nine-or-ten hours on the bike during the last two-and-a-half weeks and after six months out that is nothing. My speed is not that bad but I knew my fitness would be tough.
“On Saturday I already showed good speed and even more today but the opposition have their flow after half a season and I have to catch up. I got a really good start in the first moto and it was great to race up there with the front three but after fifteen-twenty minutes I missed some physical condition. When I decided to come here I never expected to be able to finish fourth but I knew the second moto would be even tougher. I had another good jump but the rear wheel spun over the gate and the two guys either side of me closed me down immediately. I think I was around seventh most of the race. I’m really happy but really tired.“
Antti Pyrhönen (KRT team manager) added, “Romain proved once again today that he is a truly great rider; his experience and base level is so high that he could achieve this incredible fifth place after just two-and-a-half weeks back on the bike.“
MXGP of Germany – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1 Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:12.430
2 Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:05.869
3 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:13.275
4 Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:29.317
5 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:29.750
6 Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GASGAS), +0:39.406
7 Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:43.008
8 Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:45.744
9 Henry Jacobi (GER, Honda), +0:47.833
10 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:49.218
MXGP of Germany – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), 34:32.242
2 Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:07.402
3 Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:17.154
4 Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:19.987
5 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:26.529
6 Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:33.864
7 Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:38.265
8 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:39.903
9 Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Beta), +0:41.622
10 Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:47.900
MXGP of Germany – GP Top 10 Classification:
1 Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 47 Points
2 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 45 Points
3 Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 34 Points
4 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 32 Points
5 Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 32 Points
6 Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 30 Points
7 Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 28 Points
8 Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 27 Points
9 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 24 Points
10 Henry Jacobi (GER, HON), 22 Points
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1 Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 485 Points
2 Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 384 Points
3 Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 366 Points
4 Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 365 Points
5 Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 330 Points
6 Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 304 Points
7 Brian Bogers (NED, HUS), 252 Points
8 Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 250 Points
9 Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, BET), 229 Points
10 Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 227 Points
